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Definition of lastnext
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last

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective last contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of last are final, terminal, and ultimate. While all these words mean "following all others (as in time, order, or importance)," last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped.

last page of a book
last news we had of him

When is it sensible to use final instead of last?

In some situations, the words final and last are roughly equivalent. However, final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

When can terminal be used instead of last?

The synonyms terminal and last are sometimes interchangeable, but terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

When is ultimate a more appropriate choice than last?

While in some cases nearly identical to last, ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible.

the ultimate collapse of the system

How does the adjective last contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of last are final, terminal, and ultimate. While all these words mean "following all others (as in time, order, or importance)," last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped.

last page of a book
last news we had of him

When is it sensible to use final instead of last?

In some situations, the words final and last are roughly equivalent. However, final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

When can terminal be used instead of last?

The synonyms terminal and last are sometimes interchangeable, but terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

When is ultimate a more appropriate choice than last?

While in some cases nearly identical to last, ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible.

the ultimate collapse of the system

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of last
Adjective
The jury of seven men and five women was selected last week. Karla Cote, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026 For example, last year the White House cut $400 million in funding to Columbia University as a penalty for the school’s handling of demonstrations over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
Filming in the Stockholm archipelago kicked off May 20, 2025 and lasted for approximately 70 days, with a five-week pause in July due to a tourist influx. Annika Pham, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026 The Shrivers’ lasting influence still surprises their children. Liz McNeil, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for last
Recent Examples of Synonyms for last
Adjective
  • An Eliot Wolf pick Eliot Wolf will have final say on the Patriots’ draft picks Saturday, when Mike Vrabel will be away with his family and seeking counseling.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Redick worked with James’ trainer Mike Mancias to ensure his 41-year-old star’s durability in the final aughts of the game – the four-time NBA MVP eventually playing a team-high 45 minutes while using any opportunity to sink to the floor for a breather.
    Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • As in the less conclusive first season, it feels engineered to deliver the characters to happy, or relatively happy, endings, and to send viewers out not regretting their investment of time.
    Robert Lloyd, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
  • As in the less conclusive first season, it feels engineered to deliver the characters to happy, or relatively happy, endings, and to send viewers out not regretting their investment of time.
    Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Nowhere has the flipping of the form books been more striking than in La Liga, where two weekends ago — for only the third time in history — each of the bottom five teams picked up maximum points.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Consider this for date night or your next wedding, keeping accessories to a minimum for maximum impact.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Only one cardinal survived—smells like a snitch—and Urban was apparently disappointed by how little the other captive cardinals had screamed.
    Jane Bua, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Smaller bush-type, or determinate, tomatoes can survive without support, but staking can help in the long run.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Here's a breakdown of the 10 best remaining fits for Denver at their late-second-round slot Friday.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The woman used her hand to shield herself as Peavey continued to strike her with the remaining part of the brick before walking away.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The video is the latest in a lengthy stream of controversies the probation department has faced in recent years.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2023
  • The shooting happened the day before the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17 and is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S.
    Joey Cappelletti and Mike Householder, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • Enforcement must be swift and decisive in removing fraudulent operators.
    Tom Koutsoumpas, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The same official also indicated that Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, is not necessarily the decisive factor in these discussions, but Nabih Berri, speaker of the nation's House, is the one with true authority, not Aoun.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Since then, Beijing cut off most of its official dialogue with Taiwan's government in the capital Taipei and started sending military planes and vessels towards the island on a daily basis.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Because most moviegoers aren’t necessarily familiar with the technical aspects of getting inside a character.
    Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/last. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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